Chapter 38: Give and Take (1)
RrcdI opened my eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.ruTn
BY4o“I’m going to die…”TbNKg8
JwQ0uIn reality, it was the same ceiling as yesterday.G4JZcGy
dQsBut the colorful drawings embedded in the ceiling only made it seem more unfamiliar.rCmhrHD
xysbaFor a street kid, the aesthetics of the aristocracy remained hard to understand.SRL
dN1F“Ugh…”gDM
S8XqeGsVlad tried to raise his hand towards the teapot beside him, but his bones began to ache as if he had taken a severe beating.zvOoHQ
MvftvTHe hadn’t suffered any serious injuries, but the throbbing pain was an accurate description of how Vlad felt at that moment.953LLEp
GskevcRIt had to be this way.M7u
ezQLHe had shattered the shell that surrounded him with all his might.sQZd
g4Cscs“Goethe.”e9dEf
FOtZ2“What’s wrong, Captain? Is there any discomfort? Whom do you want me to call?”4B4Oh7g
XZJFTYmGoethe, who had been dozing in the chair next to the bed, started to ask exaggeratedly upon Vlad’s call.wpFjWV9
XzIL2Bu“…”GzSV45n
7ZCGnDLVlad’s response to Goethe, who could see through him, was somewhat in jest, but now it was just a jest.yqYa
bE6sbHe knew very well why Goethe was there.ee8S5S
Oda“Give me some water.”WyKS
kT2sV“Alright, huh?”SNI
AKzlVlad thought as he watched Goethe leave the room, claiming there was no water in the teapot.JoyvG
fIFQMgStill, it’s worth having him around.349vK
gabRwHis intentions were transparent, his purpose clear, and if he couldn’t be trusted, at least he could be kept alert.EvIzxt
1zchjIn life, there were many people who smiled at you upfront but hid a sharp blade behind their backs.2ryth9
EIH1EIt’s better to have someone like Goethe by your side than be stabbed by one of them unprepared.CbZMtB
0yzop1“And he’s good at…”JcAG4
VsmXfpcBeing a former mercenary and still doing his job as a stable boy for House Bayezid meant that at least Goethe wasn’t as incompetent as to go starving somewhere.jtiNy
Auq2d4As much as he hated to admit it, he had received some help here and there, so he was willing to let Goethe pick up any crumbs that fell his way.qrRfta
5VeUHe could understand Goethe’s desire to cling to him.qwRd
n8Py09tClick.dENy
ReSTaking a moment to gather his thoughts, the door opened, and Goethe came in.82r
4bE“Pour me some water.”EvO9i
LQu“…”ggLx1Ou
3dV73Vlad, still gazing at that unfamiliar ceiling, motioned for Goethe to pour him water.ANZyl
oNpgqFIt was the least he could do if he wanted to call himself a captain.1V4ufg
SM6tVPurr-.Vhln2wC
tqfXKVlad turned his head upon hearing Goethe pouring water into a cup.m2v
zkaAlK5And the sound of wind being sucked in replaced the cry.p47gK
LFa42Z“Hmph…”jbIINn
odRNbL“Did you rest well?”Psf
Yr8The person beside him was pouring water without saying a word.7HlQCAo
VZfm3“I’m glad to see you seem to have regained your strength.”Tkrs5
v4LcThe man serving him water with an unusually generous smile on his face was Joseph, the man to whom he had sworn loyalty.nPCFL6
FtrjVlad realized he had committed a great insolence and hastily bowed, exclaiming, “I’m sorry!”PZvxW
SfkI“I’m sorry was a mistake…”RBAzX
ZvxN“It’s okay. Make yourself at home.”PsuLM
ARSLYmHurriedly taking the water glass from Joseph’s hand, Vlad gulped it down, helpless, whether his body hurt or not.oyO
26H585aThe remaining water dripped onto the blanket.owQ1f3V
QL99WDo“Does something hurt in particular?”jiwy
kEZXFq“…Nothing.”NUeq
PhUqQStill, the chill in the air seemed to have sobered him up, and Vlad responded with the courtesy he had learned from the countless beatings Jager had given him.KIZO
oO3rnwK“Alright.”csxuNa1
u1G4ZJoseph sat in the chair where Goethe had been sitting moments ago and looked at Vlad.x5yNx3x
jgz1“Thank you. To be honest, I didn’t think you would go that far.”eCE
j43VJnThinking about the duel Vlad had shown that day, Joseph spoke candidly to his squire.DbeWA
uDTOE“Thank you.”fEEya
7u9HAcknowledging the sincerity in Joseph’s words, Vlad involuntarily clenched his fists, trying to revive the feeling of that day.QjMS1h
dfQcGJThere were memories, faint but present.WOb8sJ
Md7oMThey were like dried flowers that had lost their scent, but they were the kind of memories that made his heart race just thinking about them.CrSoP
DZbp7“But the duel is…”zExIM
fBubo7tIf he had been an ordinary noble and squire, he wouldn’t have been able to ask such a question.VrP
35CtxuBut Vlad knew he had gone too far.6998k
oRqXGHe was one of the few sailors aboard Joseph’s great ship, and he knew he was one of the ones expected.t4pR
OdJLoVlad of Soars was the one Joseph allowed.oiDfY
7dDVu5“So, the duel. I should tell you about it.”pOeZ
aB14Since he had awakened here, Vlad had been curious about the outcome of the duel.3eOGKHM
J0nmMhWhat had become of the woman with watery hair who had cried so pitifully?cJbob
eJRHad Joseph achieved what he wanted, asking him to endure for ten minutes?eng7PAG
evyVlad had many questions, but he had no one to ask until now because Goethe, who stayed by his side, was nothing more than a stable boy, and the only people coming in and out were the maids tending to his wounds.YCUIFw
K1Pi“Since you were part of the duel, you deserve to hear the details of the outcome.”hIIOBX4
z1FEGAnd now, before Vlad’s eyes, was the man who had everything about the duel in his hands.26kRI
3Me5WHJoseph nodded to Vlad’s question and opened his mouth.p2V
BYZW6DZ“The duel has been suspended.”RZWh5
wYy1qFh“If it’s suspended, then…”sBW03qi
h8rPpE“It means it was postponed without producing results.”L9cqJT
snxqXJoseph told Vlad that the rules of the Sacred Duel and the discipline of the Swordmaster had become quite complicated.msN8kl
WJWkDzeVlad nodded, listening to Joseph’s words.sh7li2Q
3Kj8W2The Discipline of the Swordmaster.y1J7TQ
ESFX0Although he couldn’t tell him the true outcome of the duel, the voice had explained to him what the Discipline of the Swordmaster was.0WqrS
kQ6O“To become a knight, you must swear an oath to the Discipline of the Swordmaster. Vlad, if things go well for you, there will come a day when you have to make that oath.”oRXQC21
8TkijAs the basic steps to becoming a knight flowed from Joseph’s lips, Vlad felt a tingling in the depths of his chest.N28
XzFWwiKnight.jS0Nk
AZWUAlways had yearned for that word, one that made him feel special just by pronouncing it.tzyEkED
2JfFAnd now, the boy has taken a step on the path to becoming a knight.KCb
4zpIt was a moment when dreams turned into goals.jE43BOF
ZOjao2“I hope you’re taking care of yourself because I don’t want you staying here for too long.”pFNJCP
U0I“Right now, I’m going to…”wGAFB
8Zzojn“You can’t do that.”4eB
49m8said Joseph, standing up.Ndzp0h
6Zd1epi“I’m a man who knows how to save what he can.”kCL
fLriJoseph looked at Vlad and smiled.hDth7R
RJl59“There will be a reward for this. So rest easy.”pb3Zc
3YgvAn explanation of the consequences, a sincere word, and the promise to give him his reward.gBiDU
YNrHaving come and said only what needed to be said, Joseph left quietly through the door.PMk02n
iKCv“…”nyVG9
B0shfVlad stood still, reflecting on Joseph’s words, and turned his head to look at the hilt of the sword he kept by the bed.ThBIZG
7Whj9pThe red glow of the setting sun streamed through the window and clung to the blade.Tz1Fn
n9meS4v“A reward.”86f
qZqnly6Joseph’s words about giving what was due for what had been done were not always true.hNppuOa
4A2ZQEEspecially in the streets where the boy lived.bzGd
6Z933Rewards didn’t always come with hard work, and sometimes they didn’t bring rewards at all.8mIa
BwdZSo he was lucky.jXY
pSBUeTo meet a guy named Joseph.AyoTz
hC58Vlad thought, reaching for the sword he had carried with him since he had escaped from Soara.zSlcI
eaASasA sword that an inexperienced old blacksmith had forged with all his might.4mwBXQ3
k2DmQThe only thing he could always count on, regardless of effort or outcome.svt0lyl
2vYWR“I did well then, didn’t I?”Gzg5
OruKgVlad’s question made the sword weep.MBD7
kozQGThis time, it wasn’t a sword without anything, but a voice in its soul.pp2Ef
NJA4N***tcTPs
09oBMAn empty corridor, tinted with the crimson of the sunset.mpLjc
mrRPI2A man walks down a corridor that no one else seems to walk.Fca
M30Z1A knight who did not know honor.K8e1N
NcNJubert, of House Shazad, was about to leave after completing all his duties for House Heinal.eU5
WpY9EJIt was a mission that would have been a failure if he had failed, but his lord would understand if he found out the current situation.bZR7
E65He couldn’t blame the sea for the waves, nor the sky for the wind.gINstqO
A1aY8OThe events of that day were beyond Jubert’s control.br87KvW
qOLciIt was a kind of disaster.jsGX
Kzkd“The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it seems.”3Fno
TLbWyiFJubert licked his lips as he remembered the absurdity of the duels.oSkq3
DCa8As he walked down the corridor, lost in thought, a sword suddenly emerged from the shadows at the end of the hallway.4GRsO6
C8Jqo“You… really don’t have to do this.”Ik9A
r3Pm1“I’m only doing it because I want to.”BjRmp
F8NZFrom the dark shadows emerged a man with narrowed eyes.bHDDE5x
uz82Jager, Knight of Bayezid.FkV8cPe
WFlHe had waited in the darkness for the dishonorable knight, anger concealed in his left eye, covered by an eyepatch.dsWee
fCddk0u“How long have you been waiting? Don’t you have anything better to do?”N2WdI
22fs0L5“I’m leaving today.”HXvfUS
r6uagUO“Isn’t it a waste of your vacation?”ui0oxKl
8PluEven with the cold blade of the sword against his throat, Jubert refused to abandon the smile on his face.dPgBxE
pI3VRHe seemed like a man who would smile until his last breath.PTzC3bA
ZlS1“If you have time off, you should always catch up.”H7pfNLx
tgU5VBut if his twisted personality was any indication, Jager was not an easy man to please.pWZSJs
0FRThe two knights faced each other with fake smiles and cold expressions.Byva
iYBqiuR“I know you regret it, but I couldn’t help it.”zzM6
aH1“I guess I can’t help it either.”Xwh0oAS
tIIQA single drop of crimson blood began to drip from the tip of Jager’s sword as he held it against Jubert’s throat.1hcBp0
kRlThe drops soaked the red carpet on the hallway floor.QuCi
bydWSH“Are you going to kill me?”AIzIbeJ
rTM0GZS“…”185
b7aJubert’s question, still undisturbed by the blood flowing from his neck, was met with silence from Jager.KPcN
pgyP“It’s a shame; we share the same profession. You should be able to understand.”4Vd2OVy
QAStN5Even as he spoke, Jubert’s fingers were intertwined, gently moving away from the tip of Jager’s sword.znzBpA
v0GA faint light glowed at the tip of his fingers.nCB
7xCNe“What can I say, if my lord tells me to bark, I’ll bark.”wfw
dNbiYbaFor a knight, the orders of their lord come first, their honor second.2zK
qJveKSTherefore, for a knight without honor, there is only one thing that matters: the orders of their lord.87PJpU
CFkHD“You’re not a dog that bites only when your master tells you to bite. They call us knights, but that’s not what we are.”kxZn
n0jHJager did not respond to the man who stood defiant before him.r7BpCk
Zf4Bam!0f1
t0sInstead, he threw a furious punch.F4MaV
CmeDoOCrimson blood sprayed from Jubert’s face.PxJ
szZl04p“My lord is a good man, so a little bite is fine.”1wyB
eS5“Ugh, you bastard…”9I61d
9arJoubert laughed, spitting something fishy from his battered mouth.p5Y
1RFP“Is this enough…?”S3d
uyg“One more.”QwAnE
JW3Before Jubert could finish his question, Jager’s sharp knee thrust into Jubert’s abdomen.lQ6q
AAI“Kuluk-kuluk-.”yEPReP
p14Ux“Since we’re in the same line of work, you’ll understand this, right?”o0Z0SpU
seG6Jtm“Kulk-uh. Indeed… This should be appropriate.”wYk
3nNrAJager frowned as he looked at Jubert, who remained relaxed despite being struck.Z4Q
8Mo5On that day on the dueling field, the honorable knight had deceived Alicia and mocked Joseph.7TPj1
22i9The mockery of his lord’s honor was too much for Jager.AUech
xpoBut the decision to kill the knight before him was not an easy one, not for him, not even for Joseph.WVbVj
MKz2vZYTheir relationship was already strained, but here, they were mere guests.6zB
ToQMVMoreover, killing a knight from either of the two houses would be equivalent to a declaration of war.PdlFG
DnlAlthough his relationship with Shazad was broken, it was beyond Joseph’s power to decide whether to act accordingly.i2FS
BibOnly one person could decide that. Fether Bayezid, Head of the Bayezid family.cPl
v5BWyke“I hope to see you next time.”IW23
jhB“Well, I guess we’ll meet sooner or later.”ZnB
LUcE8The two knights, aware of the circumstances, exchanged a weak exchange of what they had to give and what they had to take.dAOh
nVMBo“Isn’t this the time of year when the empire crumbles, and people don’t come together because they wish?”ByTESM
kH1t7cEven Jager bit his tongue as he watched Jubert, who smiled as if the blow hadn’t affected him.IyfAYA
P0PqEeN“Until next time.”pw1dxf
IDD5Watching Jubert walk away, running his hands through his hair, Jager sheathed his sword in silence.vJJeZ
x1ITOPerhaps Jubert was right.OlQXrY
yGKxFThe moment was coming.BK4U0
i9hTA time when the sword was more necessary than ever.vGg
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